Study the Quran

Tafsir

Scholarly commentary explaining a verse — its context, its meaning and how the scholars have understood it.

Ar-Rum 30:8

Word by word

أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآئِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَـٰفِرُونَ

Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allāh has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.

Ibn Kathir (Abridged) English Ma'arif al-Qur'an English Tafsir Muyassar Arabic Tafsir Ibn Kathir Arabic All sources

Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

Hafiz Ibn Kathir

وَإِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَـفِرُونَ(8. cont - And indeed many of mankind deny meeting with their Lord.) Then Allah tells us of the truth of the Message brought by the Messengers and how He supported them with miracles and clear signs, such as when He destroyed those who disbelieved in them and saved those who believed in them.

Ma'arif al-Qur'an

Mufti Muhammad Shafi

Commentary

The first two verses are an appendix and endorsement to the previous subject that these disbelievers are engrossed so much in the temporary mundane glitter and transitory pleasures that they have totally forgotten the real nature of this world and its ultimate end. If they had pondered over this, the secret of this world would have dawned upon them that the Creator of this universe has not created the sky and the earth, and the creatures in between, just for nothing. There is a great wisdom and purpose behind their creation, which is, that people should recognize the Creator through all His creations, and then get on to look for things that He likes and dislikes. Once they know His likes and dislikes, they should strive to please Him as much as possible, and avoid that which displeases Him. It is obvious that there should be rewards for good deeds, and punishments for evil doings, because equating good with bad is against justice and fair play. One should also realize that this world is not the place where his good or evil acts may be recompensed in full.

On the contrary, very often it is seen that the evil-doers thrive very well in this world, and the one who abstains from evils suffers the troubles and tribulations.

Therefore, it is necessary that a time should come when this system should come to an end, and a reckoning of good and evil acts of all the persons takes place, on the basis of which rewards and punishments are awarded. The time when this will come is called the Dooms Day and the Hereafter.

The gist of this discussion is that if the disbelievers had pondered over these things, then this very sky and earth and the creatures in between them would have testified that they were not permanent. They are here but for a short time, after which a new world is to come, which will be permanent. This is the essence of the first of the above verses أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُ‌وا فِي أَنفُسِهِم (30:8) This was a matter of logical rationale. In the next verse worldly thinking and experiences are presented as a testimony, and the Makkans are addressed in the following words:

Tafsir Muyassar

Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Saudi Arabia

أو لم يتفكر هؤلاء المكذِّبون برسل الله ولقائه في خلق الله إياهم، وأنه خلقهم، ولم يكونوا شيئًا. ما خلق الله السموات والأرض وما بينهما إلا لإقامة العدل والثواب والعقاب، والدلالة على توحيده وقدرته، وأجل مسمى تنتهي إليه وهو يوم القيامة؟ وإن كثيرًا من الناس بلقاء ربهم لجاحدون منكرون; جهلا منهم بأن معادهم إلى الله بعد فنائهم، وغفلةً منهم عن الآخرة.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Hafiz Ibn Kathir

يقول تعالى منبها على التفكر في مخلوقاته ، الدالة على وجوده وانفراده بخلقها ، وأنه لا إله غيره ولا رب سواه ، فقال : ( أولم يتفكروا في أنفسهم ) يعني به النظر والتدبر والتأمل لخلق الله الأشياء من العالم العلوي والسفلي ، وما بينهما من المخلوقات المتنوعة ، والأجناس المختلفة ، فيعلموا أنها ما خلقت سدى ولا باطلا بل بالحق ، وأنها مؤجلة إلى أجل مسمى ، وهو يوم القيامة; ولهذا قال : ( وإن كثيرا من الناس بلقاء ربهم لكافرون ) .

Tafsir is provided for educational reference. Paragraph breaks are added for readability — the wording of each commentary is unchanged. For religious guidance, consult a qualified scholar.